Learn More and ApplyTeaching and Learning: Early Childhood Education (MA or MEd) Online

The Department of Teacher Education prepares Urban Professional Multicultural Educators through an integrated program of courses and field experiences. Programs offered are designed for the preparation of future educators. The programs of study center around our commitment to excellence in teaching in today’s diverse society through the investigation of significant educational issues, inquiry into student learning and effective teaching practices, and the use of technology in teaching and learning.  Online and online-hybrid classes offer opportunities for synchronous and asynchronous participation and supervision. We engage teacher candidates in critical reflection upon their practice throughout the program. We foster engagement in schools through our Partnership Schools and other school and agency affiliations. Upon completion of this online program, teacher candidates measure themselves against the values of our guiding conceptual framework through the completion of professional portfolios. Values that are part of this framework include: commitment to social justice, critical pedagogy, and positive educational transformation within the context of a Vincentian personalism that honors the dignity of each person.

Students entering the program must be able and willing to devote themselves to a program requiring a minimum of 105 hours of daytime internships/field experiences in early childhood programs and schools. These school-based internships. Two internships (T&L 481, T&L 482) are aligned with curriculum and instruction theory courses and require students to be in the field during the daytime for 35 hours in a preschool classroom setting, and 35 hours in a primary-grade (K-2nd grade) classroom setting. Students also are required to complete 35 hours of observational field experience in an infant-toddler classroom. As part of their culminating experiences in early childhood education, students devote a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks to full-time student teaching. Students who are working full-time in childcare centers and schools may be able to complete their student teaching and some of their clinical hours in their employment sites. Contact the Early Childhood Education Program Director to determine options and eligibility.

The program in early childhood education prepares students to teach children in a variety of urban and suburban educational settings, including public and private elementary schools and early childhood education centers. Graduates earn the Master of Arts or Master of Education degree and are entitled to apply for the Illinois Professional Educator License. In addition, teacher candidates meet IL Approval for Teaching Young Children with Special Needs, ages 3-6. All of these elements are built into the required curriculum.

In addition, students have options of acquiring the following endorsements and credentials:

• Early Childhood Bilingual/ESL endorsement
• Early Childhood Learning Behavior Specialist (special education) endorsement
• Courses toward acquiring credentials in Developmental Therapy

Licensure

Learning Outcomes

Student will be able to:

• Integrate and apply their synthetic research-based knowledge of child development to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for each child.
• Establish respectful, reciprocal relationships that involve, support, and empower families as well as the communities in which they live. They create these relationships based upon their ongoing study of theory-based methods and models for understanding each family’s characteristics, the community’s dynamics, and the identified needs of the children.
• Critically research and use multiple forms and approaches of effective assessment in planning and documenting all children’s ongoing growth and development, in the service of informing stakeholders’ work and support of children and families.
• Investigate, evaluate, and develop a wide repertoire of developmentally appropriate and productive strategies that address the multiple learning needs of children and the families who support them.
• Create, implement, and critically analyze as well as evaluate meaningful curriculum through use of research tools and professional academic disciplinary knowledge, to enhance learning outcomes for all children.
• Demonstrate a high level of professional knowledge, competence, and communication skills in the service of providing and advocating for quality care and education in various settings, across the early childhood age span (i.e., birth through age 8y).

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Degree Requirements

The requirements below are those approved by the Illinois State Board of Education in April 2016.

Content Area Prerequisites

Following the requirements set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education in spring of 2016, DePaul’s Early Childhood Education program requires that students in the early childhood education program have courses in each of the following areas:

• mathematics¹
• physical science
• life science
• earth and space science
• history
• geography
• political science/civics
• economics

These courses may be taken at the undergraduate level and may have been included in the student’s bachelor’s degree program. Early childhood education students' transcripts will be evaluated by an academic advisor after admission to determine if additional coursework is needed. Completion of content area requirements is not a prerequisite for admission; however, coursework must be completed before student teaching. It is strongly encouraged that applicants meet with an advisor after admission and prior to taking content courses.

• DePaul alumni that have taken MAT 120 or ISP 120 can receive credit towards the math requirement.

Heath, Safety and Child Nutrition Requirement

Students must provide documentation of successful course completion that shows they possess the requisite knowledge and skills to provide appropriate content and experiences for young children from birth through age 8 that reflect the interrelationships among health, safety, and nutrition. In addition, students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of cultural influences on young children’s health, safety, and nutrition, and how to work with special needs children affected by health impairments. Finally, students also must demonstrate their familiarity with practices that promote good nutrition, dental health, and the physical, social, and emotional well-being of young children.

This requirement can be met by completing T&L 615 (Child Health Safety & Nutrition), or an equivalent course taken at the undergraduate or graduate level outside of DePaul. Consult a faculty advisor to determine whether a prior course fulfills this content requirement.

Course Requirements

Introductory Courses: 12 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required.

Advanced Courses: 40 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required.

¹

T&L 407 may be taken concurrently.

²

T&L 408 may be taken concurrently.

Student Teaching: 8 quarter hours required

Registration in student teaching requires completion of all requirements and procedures listed in the college core section. 

Recommended/Optional Courses

T&L 480 provides experience with a population for whom highly qualified educators are in increased demand.

Master of Arts (MA) Option Degree Requirements: 4 quarter hours required

A master’s thesis is written to fulfill the requirements of this course. An oral examination on the thesis is required. 

Bilingual/ESL Endorsement Courses

Teacher candidates seeking an endorsement in Bilingual or ESL can add the credential to the Professional Educator License (PEL) by taking additional courses. Requirements are listed in the Endorsements section of the Course Catalog and are in addition to degree requirements.

Learning Behavior Specialist Special Education Endorsement Courses

Individuals seeking an endorsement in Special Education (called LBS1-Learning Behavior Specialist) can add the credential to the Professional Educator License (PEL) by taking additional courses. Courses are: SER 431, SER 475, SER 476, SER 597. Requirements are listed in the Endorsements section of the Course Catalog and are in addition to degree requirements.

Special Education Approval Courses

All students in ECE program will take 5 courses that are required for the degree. These courses will make ECE students who are seeking a PEL eligible to receive a letter of approval in early childhood special education. An approval in early childhood special education makes graduating ECE license holders eligible to work in preschool special education settings. Five special education courses are: T&L 406, T&L 411, T&L 421, T&L 423, T&L 427.

Licensure Tests

Students seeking licensure by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to successfully complete a set of tests specific to the Early Childhood professional field:

• Early Childhood Content Area Test (test #206) – assesses knowledge of language and literacy development, learning across the curriculum, diversity, collaboration, and professionalism in the early childhood program. Test is required before Student Teaching (deadlines apply).
• EdTPA - assessment conducted during the student teaching experience including video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analysis of student learning and reflective commentaries. Students will submit an electronic portfolio to an outside agency for independent evaluation and a fee will be imposed by that agency as part of the assessment.

Internships & Other Field Experiences

Each student seeking licensure from the College of Education must complete supervised Internships in appropriate settings in conjunction with education courses. In addition, there are some courses, which might require certain hours of field experience to be completed, and /or have field assignments, which students are required to complete. Two internship-type field-based courses (T&L 481, T&L 482) are aligned with curriculum and instruction theory courses across the program. Each internship course requires completing 75 hours of field experience in its relevant grade level classroom. T&L 481 is taken concurrently with T&L 407.  T&L 482 is taken concurrently with T&L 408. Since these internship courses are scheduled only once per academic year, be sure to work with your advisor in carefully mapping out when you will take them. For details on requirements, expectations, documentation, & courses in your program that require fieldwork hours, visit the College of Education website.

Non-Licensure Option

Individuals that do not desire a license or are not eligible for a license can seek to earn the degree without meeting licensure requirements. In seeking this option, individuals understand that the following stipulations apply:

• Confirmation must be given in writing that they seek this option and agree to the stipulations.
• A notation is placed on the transcript indicating that “completion of degree requirements did not lead to eligibility for licensure.”
• Individuals have the option to return to the ECE program within 1-2 years after earning the graduate degree to complete student teaching and other licensure requirements (including ISBE-mandated tests) and become eligible for the license. The non-licensure notation will remain on the original transcript for the graduate degree. Additional coursework may also be required.
• Coursework is chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and is tailored to individual’s prior coursework, experience, and professional interests.
• All coursework must be taken at DePaul; no transfer credit is allowed from other institutions.
• Individuals must complete the specified coursework within 2 years or be subject to re-evaluation.
• A minimum of 2 courses (8 credit hours) are required to substitute for the student teaching experience. Coursework must be 400 level and receive a grade of B- or better.

Developmental Therapy Option

These course, listed below, will prepare early childhood teacher candidates for a career requiring expertise in early intervention for infants and toddlers (e.g., from birth to age three) with special needs and their families. The coursework can be taken in additional to degree requirements, or if seeking the non-licensure option, can be taken to replace student teaching. After taking the required courses and earning the degree, individuals will be required to take a training workshop on the State of Illinois system of Early Intervention and apply directly to Provider Connections to receive their Developmental Therapy credentials after submitting their transcripts.  

Infant Toddler Courses

Two infant toddler courses are available for special population or as elective for early childhood education students who seek additional specialty in infant/toddler education.